§ 1. Christ our Intercessor,
Under the old dispensation the High Priest, after having offered sacrifices for sin in the outer court, was directed, on the day of atonement, to take the blood of the victims and a censer with burning incense, and to enter within the veil, and thei-e present the blood before God, sprinkling it upon the mercy seat. In like manner, as we are taught by the Apostle, Christ, having offered Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, has passed through the heavens, there to appear before God in our behalf. He is, therefore, said to be the minister of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man. His priestly office is now exercised in heaven, wiiere he ever lives to intercede for us.
This work of Christ is expressed in Scripture, —
1. By saying that He appears before God for us. Hebrews ix.
24. The word used is e/x^avto-^-J/i at i= e/x</)avi^€tv eavrdi' rai. Christ
presents Himself before God as our representative. His perfect manliood, ills official character, and his finished work, plead for us before the tlirone of God. All that the Son of God as incarnate is, and all that He did on earth. He is, and did for us ; so that God can regard us with all the favour which is due to Him. His presence, therefore, is a perpetual and prevailing intercession WMth God in behalf of his people, and secures for them all the benefits of his redemption.
2. His intercession is expressed by saying that He draws near to God on our behalf. The word used is ^vTvyxa.v€iv, to meet with^ to talk with. To meet, or approach one for (^vvrip') another, is to intercede in his behalf. (Romans viii. 34 ; Hebrews vii. 25.) To meet one against (Kara) another is to intercede against him. (Ro- mans xi. 2.) According to the Scriptures, and speaking after the manner of men, Christ speaks to God in our behalf; or, as it is exjiressed in John xvii. 9, He prays for us.
3. Clu'ist is called our Paraclete, TrapaK-Arjros. Tliis word is translated advocate in 1 John ii. 1, and comforter in John xiv. 16 ;